Dustpan



Feb.v 26 1924. 3,484,725

S. LEWIS DUSTPAN Filed Sept. 1 1923 Patented Feb. 26,1924.

entree are SAMUELLEWIS, on NEW roman. Y.

DUSTPAN.

Application filed September 1,1923. Serial No. 660,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, SAMUEL Lewis, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of" the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dustpans, of which the following is a specification sufiicient to enable those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to utilize the same.

My improvements relate to the type of receptacles for dust, etc., known generally as.

floor dust pans of a portable character, and designed for domestic and analogous uses; and my object is to facilitate and render more convenient the manipulation thereof,the invention consisting in the specific construction, combination and arrangement of parts described and claimed, and the distinctive features being a. cover which is opened and'closed automatically, and peripheral gripping elements for contactual engagement with the floor or other surfaces on which the device is used, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I exemplify a practical embodiment of the essential features of my invention, although I do not limit myself to the identical form or construction of parts shown, since modification of minor details, and mechanical expedients, may be resorted to with likeresults, and without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention in this respect.

With this understanding:

Fig. 1, is a perspective view illustrating the use of my improved dust pan, and as resting on a floor or other horizontal surface, with the cover raised;

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the device as suspended by its handle, with the cover closed;

Fig. 3, is a rear view of the receptacle, broken away in part;

Fig. 4, is a transverse sectional elevation of the receptacle.

'lhe receptacle R, constituting the dust pan is oblong in general configuration, with a posterior ortion 1-, which is essentially semi-cylindrical in cross section, the bottom plate r, of thetray being of greater width than the top 1, so that the side panels W, are approximately sector-shaped, the upper front edges thereof being convergent toward the front edge r", of the bottom edge 7 and the space between said front edge 1', and the front edge r, of the top 7", constituting the mouth m, of the receptacle R.

Afixed rigidly to the lower extremity of the handle H, is a bifurcated bail-trunnion extension h, between the opposed ends it, h, of -which? the receptacle R, is pivotally mounted,-this axial line of pivotal attachment being forward of the centre of gravityof the said receptacle B, so that the semi-cylindrical posterior portion. 7*, thereof predominates in weight. Hence, when the recep'tacle R, is raised and suspended by the handle H, it will assumethc position inclicated in Fig. 2, of the drawings, with its semi-cylindrical portion 7*, lowest, and the mouth m, uppermost.

Said opening or mouth m, of'the receptacle R, is closed normally by a cover C, hinged to the front edge 0", of the top portion 1, thereof, the centre of gravity of said closure C, being so located as to tend constantly to cause the free edge of the cover to rest against'the'front edger 7, of the bottom plate 9, as shown in Fig- 2, of the drawings. This tendency, however, of the cover 0, to automatically close the mouth m, of the receptacle R, is counteracted, when the said receptacle is made to rest on a horizontal surface F, by means of flexible copulative ligature L, attached at one extremity to the cover (3, and at the other connected with the handle H, preferably, although not necessarily, to the lower part thereof, as shown in the drawings.

This copulative link or ligature L, may consist of a section of chain of suitable length, of a cord, wire, or any equivalent device or material, provided it is of such length as to function as a means whereby the extent of motion or play of the cover C, as related to the handle H, will be limited in such manner that when the receptacle R, is

resting upon a floor F, or other horizontal surface, with the handle H, perpendicular thereto, or substantially so, as in Fig. 1, of the drawings, the closure device or cover C, will be held away from the bottom plate 7", of the receptacle sufficiently to afford free access to the interior thereof,or in other words, the mouth m, will be available for the sweeping or brushing in of dust, etc., so long as the handle H, is held in approximately a vertical position.

It is to be noted in this connection that this opening up of the receptacle R, is effected automatically by the mere act of lowering the said receptacle R, unto the horizontal surface F,the' bottom plate 1", receding from the cover C, held suspended by the copulative ligature L; and conversely, that when the receptacle R, is raised by means of the handle H, the closure of the mouth on, of the receptacle R, will be automatically efiected by the slack of said copulative ligature L, which will allow the cover to assume its normal position in contact with the front edge r", of the bottom plate 1", as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Thus in the practical use of my improved dust pan, sweepings of extraneous matter into the receptacle are immediatelyfenclosed and concealed from view by the mere act of raising the handle H, sufliciently to lift the receptacle, in whole or in part, from contactual engagement with the floor F, or other substantially horizontal surface upon which it may have been made to rest temporarily. This is an important advantage for sanitary and other reasons, especially when the extraneous matter collected is of objectionable or repulsive character. I

In order to insure proper contactual engagement of the semi-cylindrical posterior portion r, of the receptacle R, with va floor or other surface, especially when the latter is smooth or polished, and in fact to prevent slipping on initial contact with any surface on which it is desired to use the pan, 1 provide the peripheral surface of said semicylindrical portion 1", of the receptacle R,

with protruberant grip teeth 9, g, preferably.

in two or more series arranged in parallelism and extending transversely across said semi-cylindrical surface. These grip teeth.

9, g, are preferably made of elastic, or semi elastic material, to afford adequate frictional contact for the purpose indicated;

mean-25 What I claim as my invention and wish to secure by Letters Patent is 1. As an article of manufacture, a dust pan of the character designated, comprisin a'receptacle formed with a semi-cylindrica posterior portion, and a handle pivotally attached to said receptacle by means of a bifurcated bail-trunnion extension of said handle, the axial line of said pivotal attachto inent being forward of the centre of gravity of said receptacle, and a closure member hinged to the forward part of said receptacle to the rear of the pivotal connection of the handle with the sides of the receptacle and connected with the handle thereof by a flexible ligature, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2; As an article of manufacture, a dust pan of the character designated, comprising to a receptacle formed with a semi-cylindrical posterior portion, and a handle pivotally attached to said receptacle by means of a bifurcatedbail-trunnion extension of said handle, the axial line of said pivotal attachea ment being forward of the centre of gravity of said receptacle, and a closure member hinged to the forward part of said receptacle and connected with the handle thereof; by a flexible ligature, the connection of the said trunnion extension of the handle with the receptacle being intermediate the hinge of the closure member and the front edge of the bottom of said receptacle, whereby lowering of the receptacle automatically opens '75 the said closure member, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL Lewis Witnesses Gno. WM. MIATT, M. STEUERNAGEL. 

